Samsung Galaxy S3 Keeps Turning Off

What you find on this page:

The Samsung S3 can refer to Samsung’s flagship phone released in 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S3. It can also refer to the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier, an innovative smartwatch released in 2016 that introduced a convenient rotating bezel.

If you’re experiencing issues with your S3 that keeps turning off, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can follow.

S3 Keeps Turning Off Troubleshooting: The Solutions Here

If your S3 keeps turning off, the first thing you should do is check the battery level. A depleted battery will cause your Samsung phone or watch to shut off. You might be able to get the device to come back on, but it will likely shut off again after a few minutes.

On the Galaxy S3, you should have a battery icon in the top right corner of your screen. If you don’t see this icon, check your battery level by going to Settings, Display, and Status Bar. Check the Show battery percentage option.

If you have a Samsung Gear S3, navigate to Settings and Battery to check your battery level. Charge your device for two hours to get a full charge, and make sure you have a battery icon on the screen to indicate that the device is charging properly.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Keeps Turning Off – Here Is What to Do

The Data Storage Is Full

If you’re running into issues with a Samsung S3 that keeps turning off the battery, your data storage might be the culprit.

A phone or smartwatch with full storage might not be able to launch the core applications needed to start. You might notice that your Galaxy S3 shuts off randomly or see that your Samsung Gear S3 keeps rebooting.

You have two options to solve issues linked to full storage. If your phone stays on for a few minutes before shutting off, you should have enough time to connect it to a computer via USB. You can then access your files and delete old pictures and files saved to your download folder.

If your Galaxy S3 keeps shutting off and won’t turn back on, you will have to perform a factory reset to clear the device’s storage. We’ll discuss factory resets in more detail below.

The Battery Is Damaged

If your Samsung S3 keeps turning off, you might have a damaged battery. A damaged battery means your device can’t charge properly and will die off once the current charge runs out.

Follow these steps to troubleshoot issues linked to the battery.

Plug the device in and wait 10 to 15 minutes to see if a battery icon appears. This icon indicates that your device is charging.
If my Samsung S3 keeps turning off and won’t turn on unless plugged in, you have a damaged battery that can’t hold a charge.
Try charging your device with different chargers to rule out a damaged charger cable.
On the Samsung Galaxy S3, you can open the back cover, inspect the battery for signs of damage, and install a new battery.
You won’t be able to open the Samsung Gear S3 unless you have a few specialized tools. It’s best to take it to a professional to have them inspect the battery and replace it if needed.

Both devices use Lithium-Ion batteries. You should know that these batteries can become a fire hazard if they sustain damage. If you have a damaged battery, place some non-conductive tape over the terminals and pack it in a fire-resistant container with some sand before bringing it to your local recycling center.

Strict Mode Is Enabled

Strict Mode is a developer tool. If you’re creating an app, you can use Strict Mode to troubleshoot issues with your app’s behavior.

If you enable Strict Mode by accident, you might end up with a device that is unable to boot up since this feature is preventing the OS from loading properly. If your Samsung Galaxy S3 keeps turning off and restarting, Strict Mode could be responsible.

You can disable Strict Mode easily.

Go to Settings and tap on System.
Look for Developer options.
Scroll down to the Monitor section.
You’ll see an option called Strict Mode. When sure you uncheck the box next to this option.

Device Is Overheated

If your Samsung Gear S3 keeps turning off or your Galaxy S3 isn’t staying on, you might be dealing with an overheating issue.

Most electronics come with a thermal shutdown feature. It’s a safety feature that protects the battery in case the device gets too hot.

The best thing to do is wait for your device to cool down before turning it back on. If it’s a recurring issue, there are a few things you can do to prevent your device from overheating again.

If your S3 keeps turning off when I swipe the screen to unlock, your storage might be full. Actions like loading your home screen might put too much strain on the device, causing it to shut down. Make some room by deleting old files, removing some apps, and clearing your cache.
If your Galaxy S3 keeps turning off when opening apps, the CPU might be unable to keep up with the current load. Try closing some apps and make sure you don’t have several browser tabs running.
Malware can also cause your device to overheat. Some viruses will execute programs that use a lot of processing power even though you can’t see them. Install an antivirus and scan your device to rule out malware.
Exposure to sunlight and warm temperatures can cause a device to overheat. Lack of ventilation can also be an issue. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight and don’t place it under covers or other items that could limit airflow.

Apps Are Needed to Delete

Why does my Gear S3 keep turning off? You might have too many apps installed on the device. Apps take up room and can fill your storage by storing files in your cache.

The best Samsung Gear S3 reboot loop fix is to remove a few apps. Swipe until you find an app you don’t use anymore. Tap and hold the app logo until you see a red icon appear. Tap this icon to remove the app.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S3 (Check also: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 troubleshooting guide) with too many apps on it, navigate to Settings and Applications. You’ll find a list of all the apps installed on the device. Tap on an app and select Uninstall to make some room.

If you’re not able to get your device to stay on long enough to remove a few apps, you’ll have to perform a factory reset.

Clear Cache

If my Samsung Galaxy S3 keeps turning on and off but never reaches the lock screen, you should try clearing your cache from the recovery menu.

Turn the phone off.
Press the Volume up, Home, and Power keys simultaneously.
Your phone will boot up and take you to the recovery menu.
Look for the option called Wipe cache partition.

For the S3 Gear, your best option is to open the Galaxy Wearable app on the phone paired with your watch. Navigate to About watch and look for the Storage icon. You’ll find an option called Clean now that will clear your cache.

Note that removing apps from your device will free up some space but you will have to manually clear your cache to delete data associated with these apps.

Safe Mode

You can enter Safe mode to make sure your device is still working, check the battery level, get rid of a few apps, or clear your cache. It can also fix issues if your Samsung S3 keeps turning off after an update.

On the Samsung Galaxy S3, turn the phone off and on again. Press the Volume down key button when you see the Samsung logo. Your screen should display Safe mode as the device finishes booting.

If your Gear S3 Frontier keeps turning off, enter Safe mode by holding the Power/Home button when your device starts. You’ll see a Boot mode menu appear on your screen and you can press Continue.

Factory Reset

The Samsung Galaxy S3 uses a separate partition to store the files you need to perform a full factory reset (Check also: How to factory reset a Samsung Galaxy tablet) of the device. You can access this partition to install the OS again and solve different issues. However, you will lose your apps, data, and pictures.

Start by entering Recovery mode on your phone:

Turn the phone off and press the Volume up, Power, and Home keys until the phone starts.
Release these keys when you see the Samsung logo.
Your phone will go into Recovery mode, and you use the Volume up and down keys to navigate the different options available.
Look for the option called Wipe data or Factory reset.

If your Gear S3 keeps turning off, you can try performing a factory reset.

Turn the watch off and hold the Power/Home button until you see the Reboot screen.
Use the Power/Home button to cycle through the different options available and select Recovery.
Press the Power/Home button and the watch will start in Recovery mode.
You can then navigate to Settings and tap on General. Select Reset and confirm that you want to reset the device.

Conclusion

If your S3 keeps turning off, the first thing you should do is try charging your device. If the issue persists, make some room on your device by clearing the cache and deleting old apps. You might need to perform a factory reset if you’re unable to turn the device on or if nothing else seems to work.

FAQs

Read on to learn more about troubleshooting your S3 device.

How to reset S3 when it’s turning off?

On the Gear S3 watch, hold the Power/Home button to start the device in Boot mode. On the Galaxy S3, press the Volume up, Home, and Power keys.

How to reboot S3 in safe mode?

Entering Safe mode can help your S3 boot up if your storage is full or you’re dealing with malware. Hold the Volume up, Home, and Power keys for the Galaxy S3 and press the Power/Home button for the Gear S3.

Why does S3 randomly turn off and won’t turn on back?

A dead battery or overheating could explain why your device keeps shutting off. If the battery is full and the device doesn’t feel hot to the touch, you might have full storage or too many apps running.

How to factory reset S3?

Enter Recovery mode on your Galaxy S3 and select Wipe Date. On the Gear S3, you’ll have to enter the Boot mode and navigate to the Settings menu.

How to repair S3 hardware defects?

If you have a Galaxy S3, you can open the back cover and replace the battery. Any other hardware defects are difficult to fix without damaging your device. It’s best to take your phone or watch to a professional if you suspect hardware defects.